Ian hector steven



I. H. STEVEN. COMBINEUELECTRIC FIXTURE SUPPORT COUPLING AND ELECTRICCONNECTOR THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILE? II'ARnG, IQIIL v Patented Nov.- 5,1919. j

IAN HECTOR STEVEN, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA.

COMBINED ELEcTEIc-EIxTuEE SUPPORT-COUPLING AND ELEoTEIc ooNNEoToETHEREFOR.

- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 25, 1919.

' Application filed March 6, 1918. Serial No. 220,812.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, IAN HECTOR STEVEN, of the city of Toronto, countyof York, Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Combined ElectrieFixture Support-Couplings andElectric Connectors Therefor, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in combined electric-fixturesupport coupler and electric-connector therefor, and the objects of myinvention are: firstly, to provide standardized means whereby suspendedelectric fixtures can be coupled to, anduncoupled from, asuitablecelectric receptacle, mounted in a wall or ceiling for example,

without interfering with the wiring, thus not only saying much time, butalso preventmg the mjury of the electric wires in the walls and ceilingsin buildings; secondly,-

to. provide an improved type of plug, and

socket, which can be mounted within a comparatively shallow .wallorceiling-box, and

whereby my broad idea can be economically and safely put into practice,and an embodiment within my invention will be here inafter particularlyset forth, and what I of the bushing illustrated in Fig, 9., and Fig.

claim as new will be pointed out in the claims forming part of thisspecification.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a suitable type of housing orwall-box, embodying a certain important part of my invention, showingthe same mounted in a wall, portion of which is shown. Fig. 2 is a planview of the housing or wall-box with the cover removed. Fig. 3 is avertical cross section on the line 33, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a verticalcross section on the line 44, Fig. 2. This figurealso shows, in dottedposition, a plug carried by the electric device designed to be coupledto the wire in a building. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the plug-receptacle.Fig. 6 is a vertical central longitudinal section through the plugshowing, in section, portion of the housing or wall-box supporting thesame, and portion of the electric device to which the plug is coupled.Fig. 7 is a horizontal cross section on the line 77, Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is abottom plan of the plug. Fig. 9 is a plan of the bushing which receivesthe plug. Fig. 10 is a fragmentary vertical section on the line 10-10,Fig.9. Figs. 11 and 12 are side elevations of opposite sides 13 isaperspective view of a suitable contact member carried by the plugreceptacle.

In the drawings, like characters of reference refer to the same parts.

No standardized means has heretofore been developed whereby it ispossible; to couple any size or weight of electric fixture to the boxmounted in a ceiling or wall con taining the terminals of theWiresleading from the outside, by the very actof screw ing said fixtureinto said box. It is-one of the objects of my invention to providestand-,

ardized means whereby an electric fixture of any size or weight can bereadily unscrewed from its supporting box and as readily screwed intoanother supporting box, without the necessity of having tocut the wiresconnecting the same with the wires in the building. Where electricfixtures have been coupled to the ordinary wall-box. and re- 7 sity ofhaving to interfere in any manner whatsoever with the terminals of thewiring in walls and ceilings, a common source of fire caused by arcingis absolutely removed.

In my preferred form of invention, I pro vide a nipple comprising anexternallythreaded portion, the external diameter of which. togetherwith the pitch of the thread,

are of standard dimensions; an internallythreaded portion, the diameterof the bore of which will vary according to the diameter of the couplingelement of the electric fixture to be screwed thereinto, and an externalshoulder or stop designed to fit against the outer end of aninternally-threaded coupling carried by the wallor ceiling-box anddesigned to receive the said externally-threaded portion of said nipple.A suitable plug is carried by said nipple to which the wires of theelectric fixtures are connected so as to provide suitable contactterminals so that by the very act of screwing said nipple into awall-box, electric connection will be made with a suitable receptaclemounted in said wall-box and provided with terminals connected with thewiring of the building.

The diameter of the coupling element of the electric fixture to bescrewed into the internally-threaded portion of the nipple will varyaccording to the weight of the fixture and the practice of. difierentmanufacturers. When the fixture is a heavy one, this coupling element(which is invariably in'the form of a pipe or tube) will necessarily beof greater diameter than when the fixture is a small light one, and,therefore, it will be understood that the diameter of the bore of saidinternally-threaded portion will vary in different nipples, but sincethe nipple is designed to be carried by the coupling element or pipe ofthe fixture, this fact will not in any wise interfere with thestandardization in size of the externallythreaded portion of said nippleand the internally-threaded bore of the coupling carried by the wallorceiling box. No matter whether the electric fixtureto which the nippleis coupled be a heavy or a light one, the standardization of the couplinportion will permit this electric fixture to e coupled to, and uncoupledfrom, the standardized coupling-element of the wallor ceiling-box, nomatter where located.

The location of the internally-threaded coupling element of the wallorceiling-box, hereinafter particularly described, enables me to secure afirm strong coupling for the nipple, without having to increase thedepth of the wallor ceiling-box, and further without unduly increasingthe thickness of the coverof the wallor ceiling-box carrying saidcoupling.

39 is a nipple composed of an externallythreaded portion m and aninternallythreaded portion 100. An external flange or stop 0 is carriedby said nipple and is designed to seat against the coupling 18 carriedby the cover B of the housing or wallbox A. The said cover is preferablypositioned flush with the outer surface of the wall, and is carried bysaid box by any suitable means such as screws C, screwed into lugs Dsecured to, or formed a part of, said housing. The portion m of thenipple 39 screws into the internally-threaded coupling 18. The upperportion 100 of said nipple is internally-threaded so as to receive theexternally-threaded part 42 of the fixture. The external diameter andthe pitch of the thread of the portion m of the nipple 39, as well asthe internal diameter and pitch of the thread of the coupling 18 are ofstandard dimensions so that a'fixture supplied with the nipple -39,irrespective of the weight and size of the fixture, may be coupled to,and uncoupled from, the box A. The advantages derived from thedisclosure just made are many and are very important.

Any suitable type of plug and plugreceptacle may be used with my broadconception, and I shall now describe the preferred plug used, andcoupled to the nipple 39. The upper end 40 of the body portion 19 of theplug, which is made of porcelain or equivalent material, is preferablyhoused within the externally-threaded portion m of the nipple, and issecured in place by any suitable means such as a grub-screw 41, held insaid portion m and extending into the hole or pocket it formed in saidend 40. This plug is chambered as shown at 20, and each side of thelower portion of the body thereof is slotted as shown at 21 to providecommunication with said chamber. 22 is a bridge-wall connecting thesides of the lower portion of the body portion 19 together so as to makea stron construction. The lower portion of this bri g -wall is pro videdwith a socket 23 which communicates with a passage-way 24: which isformed through said wall 22. The socket 23 is preferably tapered andreceives the tapered neck 44 secured to, or formed a part of, a plug 25made of porcelain or equivalent material. This plug is provided with apassage-way 26 therethrough alined with the passage-way 24:, and held insaid passage-way is a screw 27, threaded on its innerend so as to screwinto the plate 28, which is held thereby against the inner end ofthe'wall 22. This screw also binds the plug 25 firmly in place. By meansof the screw 29, screwing into the extension 30 of the plate 28, one ofthe wires 31 of the fixture is coupled to this plate. 32 is a circularmetal plate provided with a central opening 33, through which extendsthe neck 44. Struck from this plate is a lip 34 which carries the screw35 by means of which the other fixture-wire 36 is coupled to said plate32. 37 is a washer of any suitable msulating material interposed betweenthe plate 32 and the inner end of the plug so as to insulate the plate32 from the plate 28 and its extension 30. 38 is a metal contact platesecured by the screw 27 to project beyond the end of the plug 25.

Mounted within the housing A is the plug receptacle E of the preferredconstruction which I shall now describe. This plug receptacle'is securedin place by screws .or equivalent means F. 2 is a central chamber formedin the plug receptacle E (which is made of porcelain or equivalentmaterial) to receive the bushing 3, (also made of porcelain orequivalent material). 4 is a circular contact plate and the same restsupon the annular shoulder 6 formed in the bushing 3. Secured to orformed a part of the plate 4 is an extension 7 forming a binding-postwhich carric e Wa lin -screw 8. 9

with the plate 11 is an extension 12 which carries a binding-screw 13thus forming a binding-post to which is coupled the wire 14. The sidesof the plug receptacle E are slotted as shown at 15 so as to permit ofthe ready access to, and manipulation of, the binding-posts alreadymentioned. By

- means of the screws 16 and 17 held in suitable holes formed in theplug receptacle E, and screwing respectively-into the contact plate 4and plate 11, these parts are firmly held in position. Integrally formedwith the plug receptacle E, is a shoulder a through which asses thescrew 16. This shoulder, it Will e apparent upon referring to Fig. 5,projects well toward the center of the said receptacle, and portion ofthe circular plate 4 rests thereagainst. This shoulder is for thepurpose of insuring the complete insulation of the plate 4 from thecontactplate 11.

When the plug, carried by the member 42 of the fixture, is screwed intothe coupling 18 and so housed within the box A, the plate 32 makescontact with the circular plate 4, and as this circular plate isprovided with'a central opening 6 to permit the plug 25 to passtherethrough, the plate 38 comes into contact with the plate 11 thuscompleting the necessary contact between the plug and its receptacle. Itwill be understood that the current will have a free path through thewire 14; plates 11 and 38 and screws27 plate 28 and wire 31,-and returnthrough the wire 36; lip 34; plate 32; plate 4, and the wire 9.

The sides of the bushing 3 are preferably 3 recessed as shown at a and dso as to more or less house the extensions 7 and 12 thereby insuringcompactness.

It will be understood that the bushing 3 can be readily removed from theplug receptacle E, when desired.

The plug and plug-receptacle, already described, are comparatively cheapto manufacture, and since they are efiicient in all necessary respects,I prefer to use them with the standardized coupling means beforedescribed, though I do not confine myself in my broad claims to the useof the plug and receptacle.

By one skilled in this art, it will be understood that the two poles ofthe plug are brought into union with the two poles of the plugreceptacle E through a rotary movement, thus insuring absolute contact Ybetween these oles.

It will be 0 served that to carry out my idea, the diameter of the bodyportion 19 of the plug be 0nd the portion m must be sufliciently sma lerthan the diameter of the bore ofthe coupling 18 so as to permit thisportion of the plug-body to be freely passed through said coupling.

It will, also, be understood that the diameter of the plug 25 carryingthe plate 38 must be smaller than the distance separating the innervertical face of the shoulder a 7 from the opposite side of the bushing3 so that the plate 38 may make positive contact with the plate 11,while the plate 32 is free to make contact with the plate 4.

Should occasion arise, the nipple 39, attached to the element 42 of thefixture, can be removed from this element and retapped to be coupled tothe coupling element of another electric fixture, and without in anymanner interfering with the standardization of the other parts of thenipple.

In this specification, and the claims forming part thereof, in respectof my preferred form of invention, the term"non-standardized is used tomean that the threaded portion of a finished nipple or coupler, wherebythe threaded member of an electric fixture has union therewith, variesin diameter in different nipples, and the term standardized is used tomean that the threaded portion of a finished nipple or coupler which hasunion with the coupling element of a cover or wall-box, is of standardsize so that any given nipple or coupler may be unscrewed from anywall-box and screwed into another wall-box.

Claims: 7

1. The combination of a housing or wallbox having a bottom wall andprovided with an apertured removable cover; a chambered plug-receptaclesecured to said bottom wall entirely within said wall-box with thechamber thereof in alinement with the aperture in the removable cover ofsaid wall-box; a pair of insulated electric terminals carried by saidreceptacle and extending into the chamber-thereof; a plug comprising abody portion made of insulating material, posi tioned within the chamberof said plugreceptacle through the aperture of said removable cover; apair of insulated electric terminals carried by said plug and designedto make contact respectively with the terminals extending into thechamber of said plug receptacle; an electric fixture, and coupling meanswhereby said plug is removably coupled to said housing or wall-boxcover, and to said electric fixture.

2. The combination of a housing or wallbox having ,a removable coverprovided with an internally-threaded aperture therethrough; a chambefedplug-receptacle secured to and entirely within said wall-box with thechamber thereof in alinement with the aperture in the cover of saidwall-box; a pair of insulated electric terminals carried by saidreceptacle and extending into the chamber thereof; a plug comprising abody portion made of insulating material, pos1- tioned within thechamber of said plug-receptacle through the aperture of said cover; apair of insulated electric terminals carried by said plug and designedto make contact respectively with the terminals extendinginto thechamber of said plug receptacle; an electric fixture; a tubular couplercarrying said plug, and having an inner externally threaded portion toscrew into the internally-threaded aperture of said cover, said couplerhaving an outer internally threaded portion into which said fixture isscrewed.

3. The combination of a housing or wallbox provided with an aperturedcover; a chambered plugreceptacle secured to and entirely within saidwall-box with the chamber thereof in alinement with the aperture in thecover of said wall-box; a pair of spaced superposed contact platesforming two poles extending into the chamber of said plug-receptacle;means whereby electrical connection is made with said plates; aremovable insulating bushing mounted in the chamber in the saidplug-receptacle and carrying said plates; a plug comprising a bodyportion made of insulating material positioned within the chamber ofsaid plug-receptacle through the aperture of said cover; a pair ofinsulated electric terminals positioned one beyond the other and carriedby said plug, and designed to make contact respectively with the platesextending into the chamber of said plug receptacle; an electric fixture,and coupling means whereby said plug is removably coupled to saidhousing or wallbox cover, and to said electric fixture.

4. The combination of a plug comprising a chambered portion and atubular portion projecting therebeyond, the diameter of the chamberedportion being greater than the diameter of said tubular portion; meansheld in said tubular portion in order to fixedly connect the same withsaid chambered portion; a centrally-apertured contact-plate positionedat the end of said chambered portion and projecting beyond the sides ofsaid tubular portion; a contact-plate carried by the end of said tubularportion and of smaller diameter than the same; binding posts wherebyelectric connection is had respectively with said contact plates; acentrally-chambered plug-receptacle made of insulating material; atubular bushing made of insulating material mounted within said plugreceptacle, and provided interiorly with a horizontal annular shoulder,and further provided with an opening in one side thereof; a centrallyapertured contact-plate seated against said annular shoulder andprovided with a binding-post which projects through the opening in theside of said bushing; another contact-plate positioned at the bottom ofthe chamber in said receptacle and extending upwardly between saidreceptacle and said bushing to form a bindingpost; the contact plates ofsaid plug making contact with the contact plates of said receptacle whenthe plug is inserted therein, as set forth.

5. A plug for plug receptacles of wall boxes comprising a chamberedportion and a tubular portion projecting therebeyond, the diameter ofthe chambered portion being greater than the diameter of said tubularportion and said chambered portion having a transverse rigid-bridgewall; means held in said tubular portion and bridge wall in order tofixedly connect the former with said chambered portion; a centrallyapertured contact-plate positioned at the end of said chambered portionand projecting beyond the sides of said tubular portion; a contact platecarried by the end of said tubular portion, and binding-posts carried bysaid chambered portion bridge wall whereby electric connection is badrespectively with said contact plates.

6. A receiving member for a plug comprising a centrallychamberedreceptacle made 'of insulatin material; a bore-provided bushing made ofinsulatin material designed to be mounted in the c amber of cularcentrally-apertured metal plate po sitioned on the shoulder of saidbushing; a binding-post, forming part of said plate, projecting throughthe opening formed in the side of said bushing; another plate positionedin the bottom of the chamber of said receptacle and'extending into thebore thereof; a bindingpost forming part of said second-mentioned plateand extending upwardly between one side of said bushing and saidreceptacle, and means whereby said plates are secured in position.

7 A receiving member for a plug comprising a centrally-chamberedreceptacle made of insulating material; a' shoulder integrally formedwith said receptacle and projecting toward the center thereof; aboreprovided bushing made of insulating material designed to be mountedin the chamber of said receptacle, and provided at one I pled to otherand positioned tioned in the bottom of the chamber of said receptacleand extending into the bore thereof; a binding-post forming part of saidsecond-mentioned plate and extending upwardly between one side of saidbushing and said receptacle, and means whereby said plates are securedin position.

8. A cou ling plug comprising a; body portion made of insulatingmaterlal having a central bore therethrough and further provided at eachside with a slot each of which communicate with the said bore; twocontact plates, one of greater diameter than the other and positionedone beyond the other; means whereby said contact plates are coupled tosaid body portion and insulated therefrom, and means whereby electricalconnection is had with said contact plates.

9. A coup plug compris' a body portion madd insulating materlal havinga'central bore therethrough and further rovided at each side with aslot, each of w 'ch communicate with said bore; two contact plates, oneof greater diameter than the one beyond the other; means whereby saidsaid body portion and insulated therefrom; means whereby electricalconnection is had with said contact plates, and

a coupling element carried by one end of said body portion.

10. The combination of a housing or wallbox, provided. with an aperturedcover; a centrally chambered, plug receptacle secured within saidwall-box with the chamber thereof in alinement with the aperture in thecover of said wall-box; a pair of plates forming two les extending intothe chamber of said p u receptacle and having ex- 'ons where yelectrical connection is made therewith, and a'removable insulatingcontact plates are coubushing mounted in the .chamber in said plugreceptacle so as to insulate said plates.

In combination, a wall x havin a chambered contact carrying plugreceptacle fixedly secured entirely therein and provided with an openingin one wall thereof alined with the .plug receptacle chamber, a contactcarrying plug removably and rotatably received in the chamber of saidplug receptacle through said opening in the wall box with the contactsthereof engaged with the contact of the plug receptacle, and a one-piececoupler directly carrying said plug and having standard means fordetachably connecting the same directly to the wall'box with theattached plug operatively arranged in the plug receptacle chamber, thecoupler having a non-standardized means for detachably connecting anelectric fixture member thereto.

12. In combination, a wall box having a chambered contact carrying plugreceptacle fixedly secured entirely therein and provided with aninternally threaded opening in one wall thereof alined ,with the plugreceptacle chamber, a; contact car plug removably and rotatably received1n the chamber of said plug receptacle through said opening in the wallbox with the contacts thereof engaged with the contacts of the plugreceptacle,

IAN HECTOR STEVEN.

connecting an electric fixture and a one-piece coupler -directlycarrying said plug and having a

